The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers. |
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The Skim
- October 8 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
- Weekly COVID Screening Testing Opt-in or Opt-out
- Covid Screening Testing Schedule
- Face Mask Policy
- What Do I Do if My Child is Sick?
- It's House Day! What Does that Mean?
- What is Bacon Bat?
- Positive Education Webinar
- A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
- Athletics
- Week at a Glance
- Looking Ahead
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Dear Friends,
Senior Nights, Bacon Bat, House Day, and Homecoming! All sure signs of a continued return to more normal operations. It was a fabulous Friday for our students as we returned to some traditional experiences that help us build community and create lifelong memories. Rest assured that there was also a lot of learning going on this week in and out of the classroom as our faculty and students settle into the year.
We hope you can join us tomorrow, October 9 for Homecoming tailgating in the front circle of The Albany Academy (food and water courtesy of the AAPA and the Alumni Association) starting at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Caird Classic football game at 2 p.m. The Alumnae Association and the Office of Institutional Advancement will be selling spirit wear as well.
We are also still in a period of adjustment as we move towards “normal COVID operations.” Adults and students alike are finding their way back to the standards and structures we rely on to realize our mission. As we adjust, we are making room for the necessary examinations of why these structures and standards sustain us.
It also wouldn’t be normal COVID operations without a reminder that the virus is still prevalent in the region and our community. We need to balance our desire to return to normalcy with an understanding that we will prolong this return if we become overly complacent.
One of the ways to avoid this is to gather data that helps us make good decisions, and weekly symptom screening is shaping up to be one of the tools we will be relying on to do this. Thank you to all who have signed up for this free service and opted-in to testing. If you haven’t, please know that it is available if there comes a time when you feel you need it.
Enjoy the long weekend! Happy Columbus and Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
Sincerely,
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October 8 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County |
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The Centers for Disease Control uses several indicators and thresholds for the risk of introduction and transmission of COVID-19 in schools. We assess this risk weekly using county data and adjust our mitigation strategies accordingly.
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Weekly COVID Screening Testing Opt-in or Opt-out
We have a list of the students who have opted-in to weekly screening based on previous surveys. If your child is on the list and you want them to continue with weekly testing, no action is required. If you wish to opt-in or opt-out of testing, send an email with your request to Shelly Reid, reidm@albanyacademies.org, who is the “keeper of the list.”
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Covid Screening Testing Schedule
Weekly Covid screening testing will be available next week for students that have opted into the weekly screening by signing up through the surveys. Testing will be held in the AA & AAG Health Offices between 8:00am and 2:30pm.
- Lower School and Middle School students will be tested on Tuesday, October 12
- Upper School students will be tested on Thursday, October 14
- Professional Community members may test either Tuesday or Thursday.
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Face Mask Policy
Students must bring a mask with them to school each day, and should have a couple of extra masks in their backpack in case their mask breaks. If a mask breaks during the school day, and the student doesn't have an extra mask with them, then the school will provide a single-use disposable mask. Please review the following face-covering policy with your child.
Face Coverings Policy:
- All individuals over the age of two on The Albany Academies campus must wear a mask indoors when they are in public or shared spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
- Masks may be removed briefly for consuming food or beverages as long as individuals are following social distance guidelines.
- Individuals are not required to wear masks outdoors but may continue to do so if they wish.
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What Do I Do if My Child is Sick?
It is important that you keep your child home if they have the following symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
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It's House Day! What Does that Mean?
The House System is a leadership structure that involves all students in Kindergarten through Form VI. Students are placed in one of four houses: Olcott, Gates, Henry, or Beck. The progressive leadership structure provides for many opportunities to lead and follow through formal and informal group interactions.
Each year, two prefects are elected for each House out of a pool of junior candidates deemed eligible to serve by the Dean of Students. The prefects oversee and direct the affairs of their individual Houses and supervise all-school projects. Each House is assigned a certain aspect of a school project, and students are judged based on their involvement and performance within their House. The Houses are awarded points according to how well students executed these two goals; these points constitute the House Competition.
The House Competition occurs over the school year. Students in all three divisions participate in various events, both academic and athletic, to earn points for their particular House. At the end of the school year, the House that has received the most points wins the Meislahn Cup, named after former Headmaster Harry P. Meislahn.
Each House is responsible for a variety of on and off-campus community events. Along with weekly contributions, there is an annual community service event when each House works to raise money for a local charity. Also, House members are responsible for cleaning the Buttery. Prefects and directors for each House oversee these duties.
On a bi-weekly basis, Houses convene to discuss community service projects and appropriate tasks for House members to carry out. These meetings are presided over by prefects and House faculty advisors.
*Below are photos from House Day.
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What is Bacon Bat?
Excerpted from Academy Road, Written by Sara P. ‘21
According to Margaret Lamar King, AAG Class of ‘65, and Academy archivist, Bacon Bat was first started in 1911 with the intention of “building school spirit and esprit de corps among the upper school students.” The first-ever Bacon Bat was a full-day competition held off-campus. It involved games, laughter, and even a cookout where Bacon was made, which inspired the now-famous name of Bacon Bat.
Ms. King believes the song competition best represents the tone of Bacon Bat. If done right, these songs can be carried through the years. Mrs. Hollander, Class of ‘88, says some of her favorite memories stem from the traditional activities involving sports and the song competition. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the classes to work together for one goal,” she says, recalling her Bacon Bat where, unlike modern Bacon Bat, the costumes were handmade.
Not only is Bacon Bat a day of fun and no classes, but it also serves as a bonding experience between the sister classes. For over a century, Bacon Bat has brought joy, laughter, and friendly competition to the halls of Albany Academy for Girls, and to this day it serves as one of our most important traditions, deserving recognition for all that is represents about the atmosphere of the school we all know and love.
*Below are photos from Bacon Bat 2021.
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Positive Education Webinar
Dr. Seligman is the Director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center and Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology in the Penn Department of Psychology. He is a leading authority in Positive Psychology, resilience, learned helplessness, depression, optimism, and pessimism. He is also a recognized authority on interventions that prevent depression and build strengths and well-being. He has written more than 350 scholarly publications and 30 books.
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A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms |
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AAG Middle School students dressed up for Shark (and other animals) Day! |
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AA Grade 2 students celebrated Shark (and other animals) Day! |
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Mr. Zabinski's Grade 8 History Class conducted a trial. General Robert E. Lee was charged with treason. |
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Mr. Fruscio was talked with AA Grade 6 students about his work with Sudanese basketball. |
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Students in First Grade at AAG are learning about music by engaging their entire bodies! Pictured is a beat-motion activity accompanied by a recording of the 1972 song “Popcorn” by Hot Butter. |
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Kindergarten boys were hard at work enjoying the new work bench center in their classroom! |
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AAG Second Graders learned how to go on Xtramath to practice math facts. They are going to know those math facts in a snap this year! |
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Advanced Photography students Ava S. '24 and Gigi S. '24 were in the photography darkroom working on their prints for class. |
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Students and Coaches participating in the Grades 1-6 afterschool sports program, made the best of a rainy day by utilizing the James E. Poole '68 Athletic Facility. |
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This week in Pre-K, the girls learned about upper and lower case Aa. The girls practiced writing the letter and sorting the letters into baskets. |
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[AAG History 8 is working through a challenging unit on 911. Students are now preparing to interview a family member to learn about their experience 20 years ago. Upper School faculty member, Pat Kauth came to talk to the 8th grade about his own experience on 911. His father, Don Kauth, worked in the South Tower of The World Trade Center and was killed that day. The students handled this difficult topic with maturity and thoughtful conversation.
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The AA 4th Graders have been exploring Definition Poetry. In turn, they creatively wrote Definition poems all about colorful autumn.
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Athletics
Congratulations to the following members of the AA & AAG Class of 2022 who were recently celebrated by their Fall sports teams.
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AA Cross Country
Joseph S., and Nicholas D.
AAG Cross Country
Kara C., Alina B., and Alex N.
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AAG Varsity Volleyball
Inez B., Sofia B., Isabelle C., Julia D., Natalie G., Juliana G., Jesse M., and Sia S.
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AAG Varsity Golf
Allison F., and Shea W
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Monday, October 11
Day 3
Indigenous Peoples'/Columbus Day (School Closed)
Tuesday, October 12
Day 1
8:00am - 2:30pm Lower School & Middle School COVID Screening Testing (Health Offices)
8:30am - 10:30am AAG Picture Make-up Day (AAG Library)
9:00am St. John Fisher College
10:00am Davidson College
10:45am University of Southern California
11:30pm - 1:00pm AA Picture Make-up Day (Pool Lobby)
1:30pm Bucknell University
Wednesday, October 13
Day 2
8:00am PSAT (AAG Silipigno & AA Michael B. Picotte Field House)
Thursday, October 14
Day 3
8:00am - 2:30pm Upper School COVID Screening Testing (Health Offices)
9:00am University of Richmond
9:45am SUNY at Albany
12:30pm D'Youville College
3:05pm AAG Senior Speeches (Auditorium)
Friday, October 15
Day 4
8:15am Johnson & Wales University - Providence
9:00am Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
9:45am Denison University
12:45pm Russell Sage College
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October 20 Admissions Asked & Answered Session
October 22 Fall Community Service Day
October 24 College Counseling Apps & Pizza
October 29 Lower School Halloween Celebration
November 2 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum
November 2 Parent/Student - Teacher Conferences (No Classes)
November 11 Veterans Day (School Closed)
November 12 Professional Development Day (No Classes)
November 5 - 6 Fall Production: Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
November 23 Thanksgiving Feast
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